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WILLIAM GANSON R.OSE 




Copyright^ 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE 
ON THE MAP 



PUTTING 
MARSHVILLE 
ON THE MAP 



By 

WILLIAM GANSON ROSE 

Author of 
"The Gioger Cure" 




NEW YORK 

DUFFIELD & COMPANY 

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COPYRIGHT, 1912 

BY 

WILLIAM GANSON ROSE 



gCi.A305790 



TO 
MY FATHER 

WILLIAM RUSSELL ROSE 

WITH APPRECIATION 

OF AN EVER-HELPFUL 

INTEREST 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE 
ON THE MAP 



John Hancock Barker stared at the tele- 
gram in his hand* 

To John Hancock Barker* 

16 West 82 od Street, 
Roxbury, N. Y. 

Report for duty October lint 

instead of September first see 

letter 

American Airship Company 
Arthur Henshaw 

The young man crumpled the paper in 
his left hand and thoughtfully stroked the 
back of his head with his right* 

"Hm — m — *" he mused, "that means a 
vacation* Let's see* This is the 28th of 
August* The proposition is how to kill 
four weeks* New York? Not in August* 
Atlantic City? Tired of it* A hurry-up 
trip across the water? Good* 111 wire 
for a reservation/' 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

He tossed the telegram into his desk and 
drew an ink pencil from his pocket* "Lon- 
don, then Paris, a run through Switzer- 
land, and " He paused* A look of 

seriousness came over his long, flexible 
face* 

"Hold on, old boy, how about Mary?" 
His pale gray eyes stared thoughtfully into 
space* "Well, you are a forgetful curmud- 
geon! Get engaged to a girl, picture to her 
a honeymoon through Europe, and then, 
just because she's gone for a visit to an old 
schoolmate and you have time on your 
hands, you plan a program of rank selfish- 
ness/' 

He put the ink pencil back into his 
pocket* 

"Why, John Hancock Barker, I'm 

ashamed of you. Your first duty is to put 

in the next four weeks in the most quiet 

and restful way possible* You must get 

8 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

yourself into trim for that new position* 
Your second duty is to spend just as little 
money as is absolutely necessary* Re- 
member, youVe promised a half interest in 
your capital stock to a life partner* Letting 
the question of duty alone* why* the very 
thought of your future happiness with the 
sweetest girl in the world ought to be 
enough for a dozen vacations* Young 
man, you should be willing to spend the 
next month in the deadest place on earth/' 

A smile crept over his face* 

"The deadest place on earth? Why, 
those were Mary's words," he mused* 
'"Were you ever in Marshville, my old 
home?' she asked* 'Not that I can remem- 
ber/ I answered* 'Well, it's a dear, old 
spot/ she told me, 'but honestly, John, it's 
the deadest place on earth/ " 

He laughed softly* 

"Marshville for mine!" he exclaimed* 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

The customary attendance was on hand 
at the Marshville station the next afternoon 
when the 4:10 hesitated as usual at 4:45* 
John Hancock Barker and a short, fat 
man, carrying a sample-case, stepped from 
one of the two passenger coaches* A mo- 
ment later five people loaded down with 
bundles climbed aboard* 

The fat man chuckled as he turned to his 
companion* 

"What did I ten your he said* "It's 
getting deader and smaller every day* 
Two of us coming in and five going out* 
Oh* you'll have a lovely time in this burg*" 
He laughed again* 

"I came for a change/' said Barker* 
"I've had nothing but the noise and hustle 
of the city for ten years* I need a touch of 
simple life*" 

"Well* you'll get that all right, believe 
me," said the traveling man* "How long 
you going to stay? A week?" 
10 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

"A month/' 

The fat man whistled and then broke 
into a noisy laugh that echoed through the 
little station* 

44 Aboard/' shouted the conductor, and 
the engine, with quickening puffs, pulled 
the stubby train out of Marshville* 

The commercial traveler sighed* 

"There it goes," he said, "my last 
chance to get back into civilization for 
twenty-four hours/' 

"Is there only one train that goes 
through here each day?" asked Barker* 

"No," replied the short man* "Any 
number of them go through* This is the 
only westbound that stops*" He chuckled 
again* "Partner," he said, "I make, this 
town once a month* If the house doesn't 
cut it off my itinerary in the meantime, I'm 
due here the 30th of September* If you're 
on hand that day, I'll buy you the biggest 
chicken dinner ever put up at the Spencer 
u 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

House — I believe that's what they call the 
Waldorf of Marshville* If you're not 
here, you'll owe me the dinner the next 
time I run across you/' 

"Done/* cried Barker, and the two men 
shook hands* 

A short ride in a rickety cab with iron 
tires took the younger man to the rusty 
appearing Spencer House, where he regis- 
tered, ate a good, country dinner and en- 
joyed a cigar in a big rocking-chair on the 
spacious porch* He rocked and he smoked 
and he thought; then he stopped smoking 
and rocking, but he kept on thinking* 

"It sure is quiet," he yawned* "If Mary 
could only see me now! I wonder if the 
traveling man was right* Hold on, John 
Hancock Barker, you mustn't let a little 
rest make you restless* What you need is 
human companionship* You're bad com- 
pany for yourself* Let's see, it must be 

\2 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

about half-past seven/* He jerked his 
watch from his trousers' pocket* "What? 
Good gracious, only 6:40! Well, a walk, 
the theatre and a letter to Mary!" 

He strolled into the office of the Spencer 
House and approached the clerk* 

"Any good shows in town?" he asked* 

"Any what?" drawled the raw-boned 
and dismal-looking individual behind the 
counter* 

"Any shows ?" asked Barker* "Haven't 
you got a stock company here, or do you 
just have vaudeville during the summer?" 

"We ain't got no stock comp'ny nor any 
voddyville, neither* There was a picter 
show once over to the Odd Fellers Hall, 
but it busted*" 

"Well, what's doing to entertain a 
stranger?" inquired the new guest* "I ex- 
pect to be here some little time and want to 
get acquainted with the place* What are 
the sights of the town, anyway?" 
J3 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

The lanky clerk thoughtfully put a 
large, vein-marked hand over his mouth* 
Then he withdrew his hand and clicked 
his tongue* "Well, there's the Soldiers' 
Monnyment over on the Square, the Per- 
kins' fam'ly memorial up in the cemet'ry 
and the big lace fac'try beyond the sta- 
tion/' 

"I didn't know you made lace here," said 
Barker* 
"We don't," replied the clerk* 
"Then what's the factory for?" 
"Well, it's a long story, but the main fact 
is that some out-of-town capitalists com- 
bined with a number of our leadin' citi- 
zens to start the establishment, but after 
they got the buildin' about two-thirds 
done, our people decided that the risk was 
too great and wouldn't put up their part 
of the money* There's ben a lawsuit on 
for a couple of years, but I guess most 
J4 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

likely the buildin' will tumble down before 
anybody comes along to finish it/' 

John Hancock Barker turned his face 
to the window, so that the clerk might 
not read his estimate of Marshville* With 
the three leading features of the town a 
monument, a memorial and a deserted fac- 
tory, surely the traveling man's statements 
were proving true* 

"What's your population?" 

"'Bout forty-five hunderd*" 

"I understood Marshville was a city sev- 
eral years ago, and that means five thous- 
and." 

The clerk rubbed his chin* 

"We had five thousand several years 
ago,' he said, "but we've ben slippin' back 
a little* That's what the meetin' is fer 
to-night*" 

"Meeting?" 

<r Vep* Over to the town hall* It's to 
15 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

be a mass meetin' of the leadin' citizens* 
They're goin' to take action on some civic 
boomin' ideas, and there's goin' to be some 
good speeches on both sides/' 

"Both sides! You don't tell me there's 
anybody that wants to hold the town 
back?" 

"Why, yes/' admitted the clerk. "Most 
of us think that Marshville's big enough 
now* I can't see as it 'ud do me any good 
to have it bigger/' 

Barker didn't want to start a discussion, 
so he changed the subject* 

"Will Silas Burns attend the meeting?" 
he asked* He had never seen Mary's 
father and this might be his first chance* 

"Yep, hell be there all right* Better 
come over yourself*" 

"I will," agreed the young man, and, as 
he said it, he thought there might possibly 
be an opportunity for making a favorable 
16 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

impression upon his future father-in-law* 

"It's to be at seven-thirty/' volunteered 
the clerk. 

"Then 111 take a look at the factory 
first/' said Barker, "and stop in at the 
meeting on the way back/' 

He walked briskly to the station and up 
the road along the tracks until he came to 
the massive concrete shell of the lace fac- 
tory* 

"Another monument/' he mused; 
"erected to outside enthusiasm that died in 
Marshville/' 

He glanced at his watch, hurried back to 
the Square and joined the straggling crowd 
that was sauntering into the town hall* 

Jeremiah Pease, Mayor of Marshville, 
a puffy little man, mounted the platform 
and called the meeting to order* 

"The purpose of this gathering/' he 
said, "is to discuss the future of Marsh- 
17 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

ville* You all know that Marshville has 
been a city and so recognized by the gov- 
ernment during the past ten years* For 
some reason we've dropped back a little* 
According to our city clerk's estimate, 
made last month, the population now lacks 
five hundred of the necessary five thous- 
and to allow it a legal city government* If 
anything's to be done, it's got to be done 
immediately* The census count is to be 
made in about six months, or to be exact, 
next April* Gentlemen of Marshville, I 
want to make an appeal to your love of 
home and your spirit of progress* By 
united effort I believe it would be possible 
to build up the population before the census 
count is taken, so that we may still be a 
recognized city* It is to the interest of 
every property owner and of every man 
doing business to help with this movement* 
What is your pleasure?" 
18 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

Ezra Miller, a tall, keen-looking; man, 
who enjoyed the reputation of being 
Marshville's leading; lawyer, arose and ob- 
tained the recognition of the chair* "I 
want to offer a resolution/' he said* "Here 
it is: 

" 'Whereas, it is believed that Marsh- 
ville's population has decreased during 
the past ten years, and whereas its civic 
and commercial activity is somewhat 
sluggish at the present time; 

** 'Therefore, be it resolved, that the 
citizens here assembled will use their 
best endeavors to advance Marshville's 
prosperity, with the hope that its popu- 
lation will entitle it to continue to be 
recognized as a city after the taking of 
the next census/ " 

He sat down, and there was scat- 
tered and half-hearted applause from the 
listeners. 

J9 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

"I second the motion/' said a young man 
of clean-cut appearance whom Barker's 
neighbor on the right described as "Thet 
young college feller, Sheldon Ball/' 

"You've heard the resolution/' said the 
Mayor* "Are there any remarks?" 

A feeble old man, badly bent and with 
a weak voice, arose* 

"I've lived in this here place fifty-seven 
year," he said, "and I want to tell you, it 
has grown suthin' remarkable* Wy, I 
was one of the first eighteen inhabitants, 
and now I don't b'lieve I know more than 
half the people in the place* It's too big 
fer me a'ready, and the fust thing you 
know we'll hev to be lookin' out fer the 
smoke noosance and the tennyment prob- 
lems* I vote to stay a village*" 

Vigorous hand clapping followed the 
veteran's observations* 

"Are there any more remarks?" asked 
the Mayor, after a moment's silence* 
20 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

A man of kindly but determined coun- 
tenance arose and went forward to the plat- 
form* The interest of all present appeared 
to quicken* When the chair recognized 
the new speaker, Barker failed to catch his 
name* 

"Gentlemen," he began, "my property 
is hi Marshville, and so is my interest* 
Fd like to see the place become a big, 
healthy city some day, but the time is not 
yet ripe* With all due respect to his honor, 
the Mayor, and the rest of the city officials, 
I know we can manage our affairs less ex- 
pensively as a village than as a city* I 
don't believe in booms, and if any effort 
was made to boost Marshville at this time, 
I'm afraid it would have no lasting effect* 
Accordingly, I'm strongly opposed to the 
suggested movement*" 

He sat down, and this time the applause 
was perceptibly stronger than that which 
followed Ezra Miller's resolution* 
21 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

"Are there any further remarks ?" asked 
the Mayor* 

John Hancock Barker thought swiftly* 
Here was his first opportunity to make a 
good impression upon his future father-in- 
law, who was undoubtedly at the meeting* 

"Question, question!" was called from 
the rear of the hall* 

"If there are no further remarks/' be- 
gan the chairman* but Barker interrupted 
him* 

"Mr* Mayor," he said, with a short bow* 

"Well, sir," acknowledged the chair- 
man* 

"May I say something?" 

"If there are no objections*" The May- 
or looked around* "You can proceed*" 

"You do not know me," said the young 

man* "Pm a stranger in Marshville, but 

I'm interested in this discussion* "Pve 

traveled a good deal* I've studied civic 

22 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

life and civic government* I understand 
your problem* I can solve it* First, let me 
ask if you want my advice?'* He paused* 

Indignation and surprise were written 
on the faces of his audience* 

"Is there any objection?" asked the 
Mayor* 

There were many unpleasant scowls, 
but no verbal protests* 

"You may proceed," said MarshviHe's 
chief executive* 

"Thank you," said Barker* "In the 
first place, let's look matters squarely in 
the face* Marshville is sick*" He paused 
and looked around* He was pleased to 
see his remark was generally resented* 

"Sick," he repeated* "A traveling man 
told me it was dead* It isn't dead — it's 
just sick*" 

"What's the matter with it?" piped a 
weak voice, and Barker saw that it eman- 
23 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

ated from the early settler* "I say, sir, 
what's the matter with it?" 

"General debility," replied the young 
man* "Its liver is sluggish, its circulation 
poor, its whole system run down!" 

"Put him out!" shouted the old man* 

"Put him out!" echoed a half-dozen 
others* 

"He's insulting our homes," shrieked the 
early settler* "He's insulting us all* Put 
him out, I say!" 

"Marshville has the making of a fine 
city," shouted Barker above the din of 
angry whisperings* "But first it needs the 
ginger cure!" 

The unfriendly noise subsided some- 
what, as his audience couldn't help show- 
ing interest* 

"And what may the ginger cure be, sir?" 
asked the Mayor* 

"Vigor, energy and push," said Barken 
"Didn't you ever think of a greater Marsh- 
24 



PUTTING MARSH VILLE ON THE MAP 

ville, a city of progress and opportunity, a 
manufacturing center, a market place for 
this rich agricultural district, a municipal- 
ity in which you would all take pride, be- 
cause you, and you, and you, had a share 
in making its name significant of big 
things, nobly done?" 

He took his time now, for he saw that 
the feeling of animosity was waning* 

"Did you ever realize that your location, 
your transportation facilities, your climate, 
but most of all your solid citizens " 

He waited, while a look of friendliness 
beamed on half the faces of those about 
him* He took up his sentence where he 
had left off* 

"Your solid citizens, I repeat, make 
Marshville an ideal site for a future city 
of metropolitan size/' 

He stopped short and looked around* 

His enthusiasm had attracted them at 
first, but now it had clinched their interest* 
25 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

"A city, gentlemen," Barker continued, 
"has personality and character and soul, 
just as man has, and working to build up a 
city in the way it should go is one of the 
pleasantest duties given to man* Incident- 
ally, let me mention that the building up 
of Marshville would mean prosperity for 
each of you, but as I look about at your 
faces, I feel sure that you are going to vote 
in favor of the question, not from selfish 
motives, but because you want a bigger, 
better, busier and more beautiful city/' 

He paused again* There was a mo- 
mentary silence, and then a burst of ap- 
plause, easily the strongest of the evening* 

"Thank you, gentlemen," he said with 
a bow, and resumed his seat* 

The man of kindly but determined coun- 
tenance, who had led the opposition, 
jumped to his feet* 

"Mr* Mayor," he cried* 
26 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

"Silas Burns/' acknowledged the 
Mayor* 

Barker was stunned* 

"Silas Burns/' he said to himself, "my 
future father-in-law I Great guns! I 
wanted to make a good impression and 
here I am opposing him* Well, I must see 
it through* He isn't the kind of man who 
would like a quitter for a son-in-law*" 

Mr* Burns again went forward and 
faced the gathering* 

"Gentlemen," he said, "I want to remind 
you that you don't know the man who just 
spoke, and you don't know what founda- 
tion he has for what he says* I believe 
we're capable of settling our own affairs in 
our own way, and we don't need an out- 
sider to come in and advise us* May I 
ask the young man what his plan of pro- 
cedure would be if this resolution was ear- 
ned?" 

27 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

Barker hastily rose. Here he was face 
to face with Mary's father, opposing him 
the first time he ever addressed him* But 
it wouldn't do to flinch now* He must see 
the argument through* 

44 1 would simply refer the matter to the 
Marshville Chamber of Commerce/' he 
quietly replied* 

The Mayor raised his hand* 

"There is no Chamber of Commerce 
here/' his Honor observed* 

"Then permit me to suggest that one be 
organized/' said Barker unabashed* 

"And after that?" asked Silas Burns* 

"After that/' repeated the young man* "I 
would have a strong committee appointed 
to follow up this movement and empower 
it to secure the best man possible to take 
active charge of the work*" 

"Where can we find a man capable of 
such a task?" asked the Mayor* 
28 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

John Hancock Barker hesitated* He 
was personally acquainted with only one 
man who he knew could fill the bill, and 
that man was on a vacation* He was 
about to suggest that this point might be 
taken up later, when he saw the early set- 
tler arise* 

"I'd like to make a suggestion," said the 
old man bitterly* "If this young stranger 
is to be our advisor, why not turn the 
proposition over to him, and the hull town, 
too, for that matter? And now I want to 
go on record to say that no matter what 
you decide at this meeting, you can't carry 
out the plans for making Marshville a city 
anyhow* It was tried before, when that 
gang came down from Chicago to start the 
lace fact'ry* You know how that iizzlcd 
out* And another thing, it 'd cost money, 
and I'd like to see some of you that may be 
ready to vote for the resolution, to-night, 
29 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

come up with your share of the dollars/' 

He sat down* There wasn't much ap- 
plause, but it was very evident that his 
words had proved effective* There was 
an audible grumbling in all parts of the 
hall* The allusion to cost was a hard 
stroke that made Marshville's pride wince* 

"I will repeat my question/' said the 
Mayor to Barker* "Do you know a man 
capable of building up Marsh ville?" he 
asked* 

"I do/' replied Barker determinedly* 

"And who is the man?" 

"John Hancock Barker/' 

"And who may John Hancock Barker 
be?" 

"That's my name*" 

There was a cackling laugh from the 
early settler* 

"Jest as I thought," he sneered* "This 
is the young man's scheme* Purty clever, 
30 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

too* Fust, he tries to make the position, 
and then he tries to get the job* But, 
young man, it won't go in Marshville*" 

Barker flushed* He was mad, but he 
tried not to show it* 

"I'm misunderstood," he said* "I mere- 
ly meant to help out in this matter, be- 
cause I've taken an interest in your pro- 
posed movement* I wanted to " 

The early settler interrupted him* 

"What's your business, young man?" 
he asked* 

"I'm an adman," answered Barker* 

"A what man?" 

"An adman, a professional advertising 
expert*" 

"Oh, you're the kind that tells folks that 
you've got the best on earth to coax 'em in, 
and then pawn off suthin' cheap on 'em*" 

"Pardon me, but you're badly mistak- 
en," said Barker* "An adman is a com- 
31 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

mercial expert, a consulting; trade author- 
ity, a past master in the art of publicity. 
He builds up, he increases, he expands/' 
Barker paused* 

"Mr* Mayor," said Silas Burns, "I'd like 
to ask the young man what he happens to 
be doing in Marshville?" 

"I'm here for my vacation," replied Bar- 
ker, and he was well aware that the 
answer did not sound good* 

"It seems to me," put in the early settler, 
"thet a young man who looks as healthy 
and strong as this one might be in better 
business than takin' vacations when he 
wasn't fleecin' people by advertising 

"There's one more question that I would 
like to ask," said Silas Burns, "and maybe 
this will settle the matter, once and for all* 
What terms would Mr* Barker propose for 
building up Marshville's population to five 
thousand before the census is taken?" 
32 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

"One thousand dollars/' answered Bar- 
ker* 

"And if you fail?" 

"Nothing!" 

A look of surprise came into the counte- 
nances of the assemblage* 

"I want to add to my resolution, that 
John Hancock Barker be employed on the 
terms named," said Ezra Miller* "If he 
succeeds, it's worth it* If he fails* we're 
none the worse off*" 

"I second it," said Sheldon Ball* 

"There is no need for further debate," 
said the Mayor* "I am going to put the 
question*" 

The promise of continued interest and 
the fact that failure would cost nothing, in- 
dicated to Barker the way the vote would 
go* 

"AH who are in favor," said the chair- 
man, "say * Aye/ " 

33 



PUTTING MARSHV1LLE ON THE MAP 

There was a volley of "Ayes/' 
- "Opposed?" 

Silas Burns, the early settler and a dozen 
others constituted the "Noes/' 

"Carried," announced the Mayor* "I 
will ask Silas Burns, Ezra, Miller and 
Hiram Tewkesbury to act as a committee 
on organization for a Marshville Chamber 
of Commerce* If there is no further busi- 
ness to transact," he paused and looked 
around, "the meeting stands adjourned*" 

A half hour later, John Hancock Barker, 
seated by the large open window of the old- 
fashioned front room, upstairs in the Spen- 
cer House, was concluding a letter to Mary* 

"Don't tell the folks about our engage- 
ment until you come home," he wrote* "I 
want to make a favorable impression first* 
Met your father to-night* He's fine* I 
only hope he'll like me one-half as well as I 
know I am going to like him* As the 
34 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

American Airship Company doesn't want 
me for a month, I am going to stay around 
here, where Til have nothing to do but to 
think of you and the future* You were 
right, Mary, this is the dearest and deadest 
old town in the United States* 

"With much love, 

"John* 

"P* S* TCI take that back about nothing 
to do but think of you* I have just entered 
into a new proposition* I have contracted 
to put Marshville on the map! 

"j- a b*" 



35 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 



IL 

John Hancock Barker leaned back in an 
easy chair on the front porch of the Spencer 
House* It was just a week since the mo- 
mentous meeting in the town hall* The 
adman's eyes, complexion and belt indi- 
cated that Marshville was agreeing with 
him* He raised up his right forearm and 
felt of his muscle with his left hand* He 
drew in a deep breath and slapped his ex- 
panded chest* 

"Fit as a fiddle," he said* "Hard work 
in this climate seems to build a man up* 
I'm as brown as the proverbial berry* as 
strong as the stereotyped ox and as busy as 
the bromidical bee*" 

He drew out his notebook and hurriedly 
turned over a score of closely written pages* 
36 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

"No," he said, "in sporting parlance, the 
busy bee hasn't got anything on me! It's 
about time to review/' He turned to the 
first page* "The meeting in the town hall 
— that's pretty well fixed in my mind*" He 
skipped two leaves* "The organization of 
the Chamber of Commerce* I like the way 
young Jones handled that local for the 
Marsh ville Gazette* It's literary rather than 
reportorial*" With an amused expression 
he read the newspaper clipping: 

MARSHVILL E HAS NEW CIVIC BOO Y 

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS FORMED 

AT MEETING OF TOWN'S 

LEADING CITIZENS 



Everybody Is" Asked To Join In Move 

To Make Marshville 

A City 

The wave of progress that is sweeping our country 
from ocean to ocean gripped Marshville in its toils 
last night and started a boom that may result in our 
fair town remaining a legally recognized munici- 
pality. The onward rush took a concrete form 
in the organization of a Chamber of Commerce, 

37 



PUTTING MARSH VILLE ON THE MAP 



which body will henceforth vigorously strive to 
keep Marshville well to the forefront of the en- 
terprising communities of this state. 

Silas Burns, a respected and leading citizen, wh» 
has always had the welfare of our city at heart, 
was made president; Ezra Miller, attorney-at-law 
and counsel for the Marshville interests in the 
lace factory suit, vice president; Truman Crosby, 
real estate dealer, treasurer, and Sheldon Ball, 
newly graduated from Western Reserve University, 
secretary. 

The first action of the body was to employ 
John Hancock Barker, a professional adman, to 
assume charge of a campaign to bring Marsbville's 
population once more to 5,000 so that it may 
retain the rights and prosperity of city govern- 
ment. If at our next census, to be taken In 
April, the population falls below 5,000, Marsh- 
ville will revert to the village class, a fact that 
would be much deplored by all. 

The general impression is that the task is im- 
possible. Mr. Barker, however, was employed on 
condition that be receive $1,000 if he succeeds, 
and nothing if he fails. 

Committees will be appointed to-day to raise 
$2,500, the sum deemed necessary to carry on the 
work. 



Barker smiled as he folded the clipping* 
"A strong send-off/' he mused* "That 
chap on the Gazette is going to be useful, 
and I must lead the columns of his paper 
against the town's only enemy — con- 
servatism/' 
He slowly turned the pages of hi* note- 
38 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

book, thoughtfully checking off a number 
of items from a long list 

"Everything is starting nicely," he said 
with satisfaction* "My prospective father- 
in-law is President of the Chamber, and, 
although opposed to my plans, he's giving 
me fair play* He'll like me before we're 
through/' 

"Honk, honk I" sounded a noisy auto- 
mobile horn from the top of the hill that led 
down to the hoteL A little later a heavy 
touring car stopped near the porch and its 
only occupant, a cheery-faced young man, 
stepped nimbly over the fore-door onto the 
running-board, grasped the porch railing 
and vaulted neatly to a position in front of 
the adman* 

"Billy!" 

"John!" 

There was a warm handclasp and the 
two men were at once engaged in rapid- 
fire conversation* 

39 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

"Well, I got your message/' said the vis- 
itor, "and here I am* What's your game?" 

"I'm going to put Marshville on the map, 
Billy/' 

The visitor slapped both of his knees 
vigorously and gave forth a peal of hearty 
laughter* 

"Why, Barker, old man, you don't know 
what you're up against* This place died 
of dry rot several years ago* It isn't dying, 
it's dead* Do you get me? Dead!" 

"It's no worse off than the Seth T* 
Grover Company was when I tackled it 
some months ago*" 

"Oh, how did you make out with the old 
house?" 

"Well, I gave it the ginger cure, and 
here's a testimonial from the proprietor*" 

Barker opened and handed a letter to the 
visitor, who glanced through it* 

"Bully!" he cried* "Congratulations! 
But come, what part am I to take in the 
40 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

revivification of Marshville? Tell me 
that!" 

"Just this* You go down here two 
blocks on the main road and turn toward 
the Lake until you come to the first path 
leading to the Glens* Go down and stroll 
around for half an hour* Billy, that's the 
beauty spot of America 1" 

"Then what?" 

"Then what? That's a fine question to 
come from a man who expects to be the 
leading summer park proprietor of the 
country*" 

"I get you, Barker* But how about 
transportation facilities? Cleveland, Lorain, 
Elyria, Sandusky, Oberlin — um, there are 
plenty of people to draw from, but one train 
a day on the steam road, poor service on 
the trolley, and no regular boat — nope, it 
don't look good*" 

"Wait a minute, Billy Horton, wait a 
minute* I'm looking after the North Star 
41 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

Line, and you can bet the steam road and 
the trolley are going to compete for the in- 
creased business/' 

"What increased business ?" 

"Oh, you're waking up, are you? Well, 
then* You go down and look over the 
Glens, first* Then read what you find in 
this envelope* Think the proposition over, 
as I've stated it* If you're going to say 
'yes/ stop and see me in the morning* If 
you're going to say 'no/ 'phone me not 
later than four o'clock*" 

"You've got me guessing," admitted the 
younger man as he took the envelope* "I 
must be on my way* Going to put Marsh- 
ville on the map, are you?" 

"That's my stunt*" 

"Believe me, Barker, you've picked out a 
hard one this time* But darned if I don't 
hope that I'm going to like the part you've 
written in for me* S'long!" 

"S'long!" cried Bafirker, and the touring 
42 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

car soon disappeared around the second 
road toward the Lake* 

Barker looked at his watch* 

"Just time to keep my appointment with 
old man Guernsey* If he's won the name 
of being the miser of Marshville, and if the 
people I've met here are considered the lib- 
eral spenders, he must be a tight wad of the 
first water*" 

He laughed* 

"Barker* old man, I admire your nerve* 
Go to it!" 

A few minutes later there was a vigor- 
ous discussion in Stephen Guernsey's front 
parlor* The veteran man of means was 
not a pleasant host* He had been a hard 
landlord and his cold-blooded dealings had 
gained for him, along with his land and 
money, the enmity of the townspeople* 

John Hancock Barker was the first vis- 
itor to cross his threshold in many weeks, 
43 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

and he eyed the young man with suspicion 
and general disapproval* 

"Mr, Guernsey, my name is Barker* 
The new Marshville Chamber of Com- 
merce has appointed me to take charge of 
the movement to boost Marshville so that it 
may remain a city* I've come to ask your 
help/' 

"Huh" sneered the old man, "if that's 
your errand, you're wasting time* I have 
no use for Marshville, and Marshville feels 
the same towards me*" 

"So I hear," said Barker, "but we're go- 
ing to change all that*" 

"Lookahere, young man, don't you inter- 
fere in my business*" 

"I wouldn't think of it, sir* I have come 
to bring business to you*" 

"Well, speak out P 

"It's this way," said Barker* "You've 
been successful* You've made money* 
44 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

You own one of the biggest and choicest 
sections of the town* Am I right ?" 

"Well, supposing you arc}" 

"Just this* You've got the rest of Marsh- 
ville jealous of you* Because youVe made 
money* they think you ought to share it 
with them* That's why they call you 
stingy*" 

"What are you getting at?" 

"Ill tell you* Fm a new man in Marsh- 
ville* I look at things fairly* Fm not in- 
fluenced by prejudice* You're not exactly 
stingy* You're fair and you're reasonable, 
but you believe that business is business 
and that both parties should come half way* 
Am I wrong?" 

"Well, saying y'aint, what then?" 

"Let me illustrate*" Barker unfolded a 
piece of paper and laid it on the table before 
the old man* "Here's Marshville and this 
is the section you own, according to the 
county map*" 

45 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

"That's right/' 

"You've got three hundred acres of prop- 
erty that ought to be built up as soon as the 
town begins to grow/' 

"More'n that/' put in the old mam 

"Well, now, you're finding it hard to sell 
because there's a prejudice against you, and 
the last few sales have been over in Clif- 
ford's allotment* There's plenty more land 
over on the south side of the main road, but 
it isn't as good as yours* Building is going 
on over there just the same unless you do 
something to turn it your way/' 

"Go on," said the old man as he leaned 
forward* 

"Now, if you could sell one hundred and 
fifty acres on the east side of your property 
near the lace factory, and it was improved 
and built up something like this," he laid 
another roughly drawn map beside the first 
one, "it would help your real estate, 
wouldn't it?" 

46 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

"It wouldn't hurt any/' admitted Guern- 
sey* 

"You want about a hundred and sev- 
enty-five dollars an acre, I suppose/' said 
Barker abruptly* 

"Two hundred and twenty-five/' 
snarled the old man* 

Barker picked up the two maps from the 
table* folded them, placed them in his inner 
coat pocket and took his hat* 

"Hold on !" said Guernsey* "Who wants 
to buy?" 

"Nobody I know* at that price/' replied 
Barker* "Possibly the other allotment will 
do as well, anyway*" He moved toward 
the door* 

"Just a minute!" exclaimed the old man* 
and he wiped his forehead with a crimson 
and white handkerchief* "If you guarantee 
that the property adjoining mine will be 
improved and built up, I'll split the differ- 
47 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

ence and make it two hundred dollars an 
acre/' 

"Let's drop the subject for a moment/' 
said Barker* "I told you my errand was to 
interest you in boosting Marshville* You're 
the town's richest citizen* You ought to 
head the subscription list to carry on the 
work of boosting with one thousand dol- 
lars/' 

"Not me!" cried the old man fiercely* 
Again Barker started toward the door* 
"Possibly Gifford will be glad to* if he 
can make the sale/' he said* 

Guernsey clenched his hands together 
and mumbled a problem in mathematics to 
himself* "Thirty thousand dollars/' he 
concluded* Then he turned to Barker* 
"If it's a sure sale/' he said* "and the im- 
provements are guaranteed* I'll pay the 
thousand*" 

"You mean head the subscription list/' 
corrected Barker* 

48 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

"All right, then/' cried the old man irri- 
tably, "111 head the subscription list* But 
how am I to know that this is all right ?" 

"I took the liberty of guessing our inter- 
view would come out this way," Barker re- 
plied* "I think you will find that these 
papers are satisfactory/' 

He drew from the pocket where he had 
replaced the maps a legal document and 
handed it to Stephen Guernsey* 

"While you're looking it over," said 
Barker, "will you allow me to use your 
'phone? I want to call up Jones of the Ga- 
zette, so that your contribution to the fund 
may be announced in this afternoon's 
paper/' 

"Don't do that," pleaded the old man* 
"They'll think I'm getting crazy/' 

"They'll think that they've been crazy in 
misjudging you," said Barker* "You leave 
that part to me*" 

49 



PUTTING MARSHVDLLE ON THE MAP 

"All right/' assented Guernsey meekly, 
as he ran his eye down the paper* Then he 
looked up suddenly* "Ye don't mean it's 
to be sold to the " 

"Sh!" said Barker* "That's one thing I 
forgot* Nothing is to be said about the pur- 
chaser of your property* until the an- 
nouncement comes from that side of the 
transaction* Well* are you satisfied with 
the proposition?" 

"Yes/' said the old man* and he contin- 
ued to study the document while Barker 
telephoned the news* 

There was keen surprise in the Marsh- 
ville Savings Bank when Stephen Guern- 
sey and John Hancock Barker signed their 
papers and concluded their deal* but those 
who participated in the transaction were 
committed to secrecy* 

There was surprise at the same time 
about the Public Square* for a post thirty 
50 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

feet high, was being firmly planted near 
the band stand* On it was nailed some- 
thing that looked like an heroic-sized ther- 
mometer, but instead of degrees Fahrenheit 
were lines numbered from 4,501 at the base 
of the pole to 5,000 at its top* The work- 
men were explaining its purpose to a crowd 
of interested youngsters* 

Well satisfied with his progress, the ad- 
man hurried back to the hotel* He was as- 
tonished to find the directors of the Cham- 
ber of Commerce seated upon the front 
porch waiting for him* 

Their faces bespoke gloom and they evi- 
dently were not glad to see him, as they 
acknowledged his bow with jerky nods* 

"One moment, gentlemen/' said Barker, 
and he called through the screen door, 
"Any telephone message for me?" 

"Nope," replied the clerk* 

The young man looked at his watch* 
5i 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

"Good!" he muttered* "Billy Horton is 
going to take up the park proposition!" 

He turned to the directors* 

"Wefl, gentlemen?" 

"Sit down," said Silas Burns rather 
gruffly, as he indicated a chair in the center 
of the group* 

Barker took the seat and awaited devel- 
opments* 

"We* the directors of the Chamber, held 
a meeting this noon," went on Mr* Burns 
with some coolness, "and we discussed this 
idea of boosting Marshville*" 

"I'm sorry I couldn't have been there," 
put in Barker* "I might have had some 
suggestions*" 

"That's what we were afraid — I mean, 
we desired to talk the matter over by our- 
selves* We didn't want your enthusiasm 
to blind our judgment, to be frank, sir*" 

"I see," said Barker gravely* 
52 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

"We discussed the start-off of this affair 
and the things you proposed, but we have 
concluded that we know now the imprac- 
ticability of carrying out the plan in Marsh- 
ville*" 

The adman didn't wince* He gave no 
indication of his feelings* 

"It's fortunate we came to our decision 
before you had time to do anything/' con- 
tinued Silas Burns* 

Barker remained silent and the conversa- 
tion came to an awkward halt* 

Suddenly there was a loud tooting from 
the Harbor* 

"Wonder what's wrong down to the 
lake/' said Thomas Martin* "The North 
Star steamer only comes in on Thursday*" 

"I may be mistaken/' said Barker* "but 

I believe that's a tug with officials from the 

North Star looking over the possibilities for 

a new dock* I understand that the present 

53 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

place isn't large enough to handle any 
amount of freight/' 

"There aint no freight business here to 
speak of now/' said Martin* 

"No/' agreed Barker, "not now/' 

There was an insinuation in his voice 
that his visitors caught but didn't under- 
stand* 

"We want to pay you for your time/* re- 
sumed Silas Burns, and he looked at the 
adman inquisitively but failed to get a re- 
sponse* 

There was another embarrassing silence* 

A man was seen passing through the 
Square with a brass instrument under his 
arm* 

"Guess Jaeckels, the fishman, has got 
a new horn/' observed Jasper Green* 

"No," said Barker* "That's Lloyd 
Andrews of the Marshville Savings Bank* 
He's cornetist in the new band that's to be 
54 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

formed to-night* Used to be soloist with 
Sousa up to the time his health broke 
down/' 

There were several exchanges of furtive 
glances at this remark* 

"What's that post he's goin' by now, 
with the marks on it like a thermometer?" 
asked the inquisitive Martin* 

"That's a recorder/' replied Barker* "to 
show how the population increases* You 
notice the indicator points to 4,50 J* sup- 
posed to be our present population* The 
goal is the 5,000 mark* The plan has been 
tried and found successful* It stirs up the 
interest and civic pride of the good citi- 
zens* 

The group looked searchingly at the 
young man* His reference to "good citi- 
zens" sounded rather ironical* in view of 
the situation* 

"As I was saying/' observed Silas 
Burns, "we want you to be satisfied with 
55 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

our treatment/* He looked inquiringly at 
the adman, but Barker again maintained 
silence* 

There was a painful lull, while two 
wagons heavily laden with brick came 
leisurely down the main road* 

" Who's buildin'?" queried Thomas 
Martin* 

"Can't be for Butler's new house, can 
it?" asked Sheldon Ball* 

"That's coming to the hotel/' said Bar- 
ken "It's to be used in an addition along 
the east side of the building/' 

"And p'raps you may know who's com- 
ing down the north road?" asked Jasper 
Green* 

A big wagon with a dozen men in neat 
uniforms was passing the Square on the 
north road* 

"Why, that's Marshville's new Baseball 
Club," said Barber* "Gibson's Department 
56 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

Store furnished the uniforms for an adver- 
tisement The boys have been practicing 
for a series of games with Painesville*" 

"Coming back to the matter in hand/' 
said Silas Burns, with a little less firmness, 
"our message is simply this: We can't 
raise the money to carry on your campaign* 
You said there ought to be a fund of twen- 
ty-five hundred dollars* WeVe figured it 
out carefully* WeVe talked to some of the 
merchants and we know that fifteen hun- 
dred dollars would be the outside figure 
that we could raise* Our wealthiest citizen 
is not the kind to help in a matter like this/' 

He looked around and there was a gen- 
eral sneer at his reference to Stephen 
Guernsey* 

"But even if we could raise the fifteen 

hundred dollars* we would feel it would be 

wasted/' continued the president of the 

Chamber j "not because it would be your 

57 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

fault, young man* The fact is, you don't 
know Marshville*" 

The paper boy, with the evening Ga- 
zettes under his arm, was crossing the 
porch to the hotel office* 

"Here, boy/' said Barker, "give each of 
these gentlemen a paper/* and he tossed a 
coin to the happy youngster* 

It would have been hard to miss it, be- 
cause old man Guernsey's subscription was 
announced in the headlines of the first col- 
umn on the first page* 

It was the biggest local item the Gazette 
had carried since the burning of the lumber 
yard* 

"Goshallhemlock!" shouted Thomas 
Martin* "What's this?" 

"I'll bet it's a joke young Jones put up," 
said Jasper Green* "We wouldn't use his 
money, even if he should give it" 

Silas Burns raised his hand* 
58 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

"Silence, gentlemen/' he commanded* 
"I'm going to finish our errand here and 
now* Mr* Barker/' he said with all his old 
firmness, "the fact is this* We've decided 
to give up trying to keep Marshville a city* 
We're here to notify you not to start any of 
your plans*" 

Barker's eye caught sight of two men, 
one with a roll of white paper and the other 
with a long-handled brush and a pail* 
They were standing before Butler's barn 
beyond the wheat field along the main road* 
The man with the paper knelt down and 
smoothed out several sheets* while his com- 
panion dipped the brush into the pail and 
smeared the side of the frame building* 

"Come, Mr* Barker," said Silas Burns, 
sharply* "Can't you say anything?" 

"Yes," replied Barker quietly, and he 
noted that the two men were smoothing a 
square of paper against the side of the barn* 
59 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

"Well, what, then?" asked Barker's fu- 
ture father-in-law impatiently* 

"You're too late" 

The young; man pointed across the road 
at the distant barn* Each member of the 
little group looked in the direction indicated 
and silently watched several square sheets 
take their positions beside the first one until 
in great red, white and blue letters, with a 
many-colored background, thev read: 



MARSHVILLE FAIR 

SEPTEMBER 26-30 

MANY GREAT ATTRACTIONS 

EXCURSIONS BY BOAT, TROLLEY AND 
STEAM RAILROAD 



60 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

"Gentlemen," said the adman in a quiet 
but determined manner, "with or without 
your help, I'm going to put Marshville on 
the map/' 

He slowly looked into each face in turn 
and noted a mixture of surprise and ad- 
miration and humor* 

"Are you going to stand by me?" 

There was a pause, and all the members 
of the group turned to Silas Burns* 

The leader of the party looked from the 
poster to the thermometer and then at the 
newspaper* Slowly his gaze found its way 
into the eyes of Thomas Martin* There 
was a momentary pause and then Martin's 
head nodded affirmatively* The gaze trav- 
eled to Jasper Green, and he nodded* And 
after Green, the others, one by one, met 
their leader's eyes and each man in turn 
bent his head to show consent* 

Silas Burns drew a long breath and sud- 
denly extended his hand to the young man* 

6i 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

"They think we should stand by you/' 
he said with a backward nod, "and so we 
will/' 

"Thank you/* said Barker, and there 
was another pause* 

"What's that?" asked Thomas Martin 
as he pointed over to the Public Square 
where a boy was talking excitedly to the 
workman who had just finished setting the 
thermometer* 

The man suddenly stopped and lifted the 
indicator two lines* 

"Johnny/' shouted Thomas Martin, and 
the boy hurried toward the porch* "What 
did he raise the indicator for?" 

The boy caught his breath and called 
back: "There's twins up to Joyce's!" 

"We're on the way/' laughed Barker. 



62 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 



HI* 

It was the last day of the Marshville 
Fair* The weather was perfect, and the 
crowd was the greatest of the five days, 
which meant, of course, that it was the 
largest in the history of Marshville* 

The aisles of the huge exposition build- 
ing — the lace factory had been temporarily 
fitted for that purpose — were comfortably 
filled, and the spacious field surrounding 
the structure was marked by groups of in- 
terested sight-seers in front of the canvas 
booths* Where the white tops covered re- 
freshment stands, ring-toss games and hit- 
the-nigger-baby-and-get-a-cigar galleries, 
the visitors were crowded several lines 
deep* 

63 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

John Hancock Barker was making his 
regular afternoon inspection of all depart- 
ments, and, as he watched the happy 
throng filing in and out of the big entrance 
way, a smile crept over his tired but con- 
tented face* 

He felt a slight tugging at his sleeve and 
turned around* To his surprise there stood 
the early settler who had opposed him so 
bitterly at the meeting in the town hall* 

"Boy/' quavered the old man, "yer show 
is right smart, but I'm sorry yer going' to 
make the town bigger* It's big enough fer 
me now*" He wouldn't wait for an 
answer, but hurried along* 

Barker's happy smile broadened* 

Suddenly he looked at his watch* 

"Five o'clock," he said. "Ill be late for 
the meeting if I don't hurry*" 

In the office of the Exposition, a neatly 
furnished room on the top floor of the big 
64 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

factory, the adman found all the directors 
of the Chamber of Commerce, save Silas 
Burns, seated about the large table in the 
center of the room* They nodded pleas- 
antly as he entered, and Thomas Martin 
drew up a chair for him beside his own at 
the head of the table* 

The adman recalled his first meeting; 
with this same board on the porch of the 
Spencer House when they had come to 
notify him that the boost-Marshville prop- 
osition was off* The contrast between the 
two receptions was so amusing that he 
couldn't repress a smile as he took his chair* 

Thomas Martin arose, looked at his fat 
silver watch and said abruptly, "The 
meetin' will come to order* Silas Burns 
'phoned me that there's comp'ny up to his 
house and he might be late* Then he asked 
me to take charge of the meetin' until he 
arrived* As there's more than the usual 
65 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

business to transact, we'll dispense with the 
readin' of the minutes of the last meetin', 
if there's no objection/' He looked around, 
but there was no objection, so he continued: 

"This bein' the last day of the Fair, I 
b'lieve it's proper thet we sh'd hev reports 
from the various committees* First, I'll ask 
Hiram Tewkesbury to present the report of 
the halls and decorations committee/' 

The chairman of that committee, a tall 
man with a kindly face, arose and drew a 
closely written paper from his pocket* "My 
report's pretty long;," he began, "and unless 
you want it read, I'll jest tell the main facts* 
Of course, you all know that through a 
reasonable rental arrangement made by 
Mr* Barker with the officers of the Lace 
Company, we got the use of their buildin' 
fer the main exhibits* Plans showing the 
booth spaces were printed and sent all over 
the northern part of the state with the rest 
66 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

of our boostin* literachure, and you know 
the results* Fifty-three exhibits and more 
space covered than any county fair Ohio 
has ever known* The revenoo derived 
from the sale o* this space amounted to four 
thousand, one hunderd and fifty-five dol- 
lars* All of this we invested in makin' the 
buildin' ready and decoratin* the town in 
the beautiful style in which you now see it* 
It has been suggested that the street lightin' 
equipment be purchased and stored in the 
basement of the town hall, so as to be used 
at each succeedin' Marshville Fair, on the 
Fourth o' July and other times when it is 
proper that we should indulge in civic cele- 
brations* In concludin', I desire to say that 
our committee strongly recommends the 
purchase of said lightin' arrangements as 
afore-mentioned*" 

With a well-pleased expression, as he 
saw that his report met with universal 
favor, Hiram Tewkesbury sat down* 
67 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

Chairman Martin arose and said with a 
confident air of parliamentary knowledge, 
" We will not act upon the recommendation 
of the halls and decorations committee until 
we have ha-i the financial statement I will 
now ask Henry Spencer, chairman of the 
accommodations committee, fo** his report/' 

The business-like proprietor of Marsh- 
ville's hotel addressed the chair* 

"You all know, gentlemen," he began, 
"that for the last ten years my hotel has not 
been a successful institution* That's why 
I haven't given it my personal attention, but 
have devoted myself to my ether hotel in 
Turnersville* When the Fair was planned 
I took personal charge, and as you know, 
have increased the Spencer House to just 
about double its old size* I've sent Sam 
Hedges down to the Turnersville house, 
and I'm going to look after the Spencer my- 
self, because I can see a good future for it* 
68 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

Besides what the hotel has done during the 
Fair week, thirty-two houses in Marsh- 
ville, to my knowledge, have been taking 
care of pay boarders, and this doesn't count 
in the number of families that have been en- 
tertaining friends, I believe our visitors 
have been well cared for, and I want to 
assure you, gentlemen, that from now on 
my personal interest is with you in building 
up Marshvifle/' 

Timothy Berton reported for the trans- 
portation committee and told how the trol- 
ley and railroad had prospered during the 
Fair week and how the North Star Line 
had run two boats daily in order to carry 
the crowds from Cleveland and Sandusky* 

"We have assurances/' he concluded, 
"that four eastbound and five westbound 
trains on the steam road will stop in 
Marshville each day, and the trolley line 
is going to run a spur through the center of 
69 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

the town down to the boat landing* The 
county commissioners told me yesterday 
that the last four miles of brick pavement 
from Clifton to Marshvilk center will be 
laid at once, and that, gentlemen, means a 
continuous procession of automobile par- 
ties over the prettiest road in Northern 
Ohio/' 

As he finished there was a loud cheer 
outside of the building* 

Sheldon Ball hurried to the window and 
looked out* "It's the baseball team/' he 
announced* "There's a big crowd carry- 
ing the fellows on their shoulders*" 

"What's the score?" asked Thomas 
Martin* 

"What's the score?" called Sheldon Ball 
through the window* 

It sounded as if a hundred answers vol- 
leyed at once 

"Marshville* five; Painesville* two!" 
70 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 
The chairman arose and grinned broad- 

ly. 

"Gentlemen/* he said, "batrin' Cleve- 
land, Toledo and Sandusky, we've got the 
champeen baseball team of Northern 
Ohio," 

The board of directors applauded* 

"We will now hear the report of the en- 
tertainment committee/' announced the 
chairman* "He's not a resident of Marsh- 
ville, but a young man who has our inter- 
ests at heart and whom we have all come to 
like— Mr* William Horton/' 

"Billy/' as Barker familiarly knew him, 
in a concise manner told of the various at- 
tractions that his committee had brought to 
entertain Marshville's visitors., He related 
how the adman had first interested him in 
the Glens and how he had turned Marsh- 
ville's beauty spot into a park where a 
small admission fee and the sale of refresh- 
7i 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

ments would pay him for attracting visitors 
from the neighboring cities and towns 
throughout the summer months* "One of 
the most enjoyable entertainment features 
of the week/'' he said, "has been the play- 
ing of the Marshville Band/* As he spoke, 
a spirited march was struck up just outside 
the building and the speaker paused* "I 
needn't say anything for that organization* 
It speaks for itself/' he said softly as he sat 
down* 

There was silence for a few moments as 
the members of the board listened to the 
rhythmic strains of music* 

"What are they playing ?" asked Chair- 
man Martin* 

"That's the Marshville March, written 
by Conductor Andrews/' answered Wil- 
liam Horton, "Just listen to his silver cor- 
net carrying the air>" 

After another pause> the chairman again 
rose* "The last report," he said, "will be 
72 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

given by our manager, Mr, John Hancock 
Barker/' 

The adman stood up, addressed the 
chair and looked about him* 

"My report is a brief one/' he said* "The 
number of paid admissions to the grounds, 
including those of this morning, has been 
twenty-nine thousand, two hundred forty- 
seven* Before the gates close to-night, it 
will run easily over thirty thousand* 
That's about fifteen thousand better 
than our budget anticipated* Chairman 
Tewkesbury told you what the receipts 
were from the sale of space — something 
over four thousand dollars* The admis- 
sions and privileges will add about nine 
thousand dollars, and our original fund 
contributed by the citizens' committee 
amounted to approximately three thousand 
dollars* That makes the receipts between 
sixteen and seventeen thousand dollars, and 
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PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

I believe that when all bills are paid and 
the subscriptions returned, there should be 
a balance of from two. thousand to twenty- 
five hundred dollars as a starter for the 
second annual Marshville Fair." He was 
interrupted by the directors* applause, 
which he cut short by continuing, "I want 
to thank you for the fine spirit of co-opera- 
tion given me on all sides*" 

"Not at the start," interrupted Chairman 
Martin with a grimace* 

"Well, soon after the start," said Barker, 
and there was a general laugh* 

A young man entered the room and then 
drew back* 

"Come in," said Chairman Martin* 
"What is it?" 

"A letter for Mr> Barker*" 

He hurriedly handed it to the adman and 
disappeared* 

"We'll excuse you," said the chairman, 
74 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

"while you read* It may be suthin' im- 
portant**' 

Barker tore open the envelope and read 
with some difficulty the pinched handwrit- 
ing, and then his eye descended to the sig- 
nature which was that of Stephen Guern- 
sey* He looked up* 

"It's a business letter/' he explained* 
"from Stephen Guernsey* He says he has 
sold four lots on the new street he opened 
up last week* He also tells me that if 
Marshville wishes it* he will give that 
twenty acres of woodland on the south 
side of his property for enlarging the public 
park*" 

'1 don't think we ever understood old 
man Guernsey/' said Hiram Tewkesbury* 

"I don't think we ever treated him right/* 
said Chairman Martin* "That's why I 
proposed his name yesterday for the head 
of the new school board* That ought to 
get him in touch with the rest of us again*" 
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PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

While they were talking, John Hancock 
Barker read to himself the postscript to the 
letter: "You forgot your commission on 
making that sale for me of the one hundred 
and fifty acres near the lace factory* En- 
closed please find check, with thanks* 

"S. G*" 

As Barker put the letter in his pocket, 
Silas Burns, beaming with enthusiasm and 
good nature, hurried into the room* 

Chairman Martin vacated the place at 
the head of the table in his favor* 

"Boys," declared the president of the 
Chamber, "it's simply great! I stopped at 
the dock on the way over, and the North 
Star steamer was packed from stem to 
stern, and as I came through the main en- 
trance way Mose Campbell said his turn- 
stile has been averaging twenty-seven 
a minute for the last hour and a quarter* 
Have you got the business all transacted?" 

"All the reports have been made," said 
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PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

his predecessor in the chair* "We jest got 
up to the point where you were to tell Mr* 
Barker the decision we reached this morn- 
in * 

The bell boy from the Spencer House 
tiptoed into the room and laid an envelope 
before the adman* 

The chairman nodding, Barker opened 
the envelope and read to himself: 

"My Dear Mr* Barker: The best 
chicken dinner the Spencer House can 
put up will be ready for you at 6 o'clock* 
I hope you haven't forgotten your fat 
friend with the red tie* who made a bet 
with you one month ago on the station 
platform* I said I'd treat to a dinner if 
you were in town when I struck it on my 
next trip* Whew I but you've been do- 
ing things* 

"Until dinner* 

"Yours* 

"Mark Strong*" 
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PUUTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

The adman looked up* 

"It's an invitation to dine with an old 
friend of mine/' he explained* 

"Now/' said Chairman Burns, "now for 
our message* Mr* Barker* the directors of 
the Marshville Chamber of Commerce dis- 
cussed this morning the terms of our agree- 
ment by which you were to receive one 
thousand dollars in cash* provided Marsh- 
ville's population passed five thousand be- 
fore April first* The population is now — " 
he looked out of the window at the ther- 
mometer, "according to the city clerk's rec- 
ords, four thousand, eight hundred and fif- 
teen* At the present rate it will easily pass 
five thousand long before April first* Ac- 
cordingly, we have decided to lay aside the 
agreement on account of your splendid ef- 
forts, and I take great pleasure in handing 
you, here and now, this check in recog- 
nition of your services/' 
78 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

He stepped forward and laid the check 
before the young man* 

"But wait/' said Barker* "This isn't 
right* One thousand dollars was to be the 
amount* This is more*" 

"Well," replied the chairman* "we be- 
lieve the population will be more than five 
thousand*" 

The adman tried to express his thanks, 
but Silas Burns stopped him* 

"One minute* gentlemen* I want a word 
in private with Mr* Barker*" He led the 
young man to the outer room and grasped 
him firmly by the hand* 

"Barker— John," he said* "Mary's 
home* She's told me* I'm proud of you* 
boy*" 

Barker tried to speak* but the old man 
checked him* 

"You'll be late for dinner*" he said* 
"Run along* now* We'll be looking for 
79 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

you up to the house after your engagement 
— I mean the dinner engagement*" 

The adman drew from his pocket two 
folded papers and handed them to his future 
father-in-law* 

"I thought you might like to show these 
to the board," he said* "Good-bye*" 

"Good-bye, till to-night," said Silas 
Burns* 

The old man drew a long breath, re- 
entered the room and took his place at the 
head of the table* 

"He's left a message," he said* "I'm go- 
ing to read it*" He laid the papers on the 
table, carefully wiped his spectacles, re- 
adjusted them and cleared his throat* 
Then he picked up the first paper and 
slowly read: 



80 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 



A CITY 

A city is not merely an area upon 
which houses are built and where 
people exist. 

A city is a living, pulsing institu- 
tution, with heart and soul and 
character. 

Its character is determined by its 
citizenship. 

Its value to you depends directly 
upon your service to it. 

Love your Marshville, work for 
it, and your reward will be certain. 

Marshville was dead ! 

IT IS ALIVE ! 

Keep it so ! 



Silas Burns paused and looked about 

The adman's words had made a deep 
impression* 

Suddenly there was a shout outside and 
then more shouts and then continuous 
shouting 1 , accompanied by the spirited 
playing of the Marshville Band* 

The directors crowded about the big 
window* 

81 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

In the center of the Square, gathered 
around the thermometer, was an eager 
throng with eyes fixed on the top of the tall 
pole* 

"Five thousand!" cried Thomas Mar- 
tin* 

"It's a joke!" shouted Hiram Tewkes- 
bury* 

"Wait a minute," called Chairman 
Burns, sharply* "The meeting will come 
to order* I haven't finished*" 

They stood at the window, while the 
old man continued reading: "The Amer- 
ican Airship Company bought Stephen 
Guernsey's property along the track, and 
closed a deal one week ago with the Lace 
Factory* Two hundred men will arrive 
on the six o'clock train to-day, to begin 
the work of remodeling* My contract is 
fulfilled*" 



82 



PUTTING MARSHVILLE ON THE MAP 

"Well, HI be hornswoggled!" cried 
Thomas Martin. The others were too ex- 
cited for words* 

Slowly Silas Burns unfolded the other 
paper* It was of thin, stiff material and it 
nearly covered the table* The little group 
bmt over it inquisitively, and Thomas 
Martin's nose almost rubbed against it as 
the big sheet was finally smoothed out* 
"A map!" exclaimed Jasper Green* 
"Of Ohio!" said Hiram Tewkesbury* 
"This year's!" called Sheldon Ball* 
They all bent a little closer and Silas 
Burns' big forefinger traced the coast of 
Lake Erie westward from Cleveland and 
suddenly stopped* 
"Marshvifle's on the map!" 



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1YIAK 1 MM 






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